Playoff Outlook: Only one spot remains in Western Conference

There is only one Western Conference berth remaining in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs after the Seattle Sounders clinched their place in the post season Saturday night with a tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The San Jose Earthquakes (61 pts), Real Salt Lake (52 pts), LA Galaxy (49 pts) had already secured their entry the previous two weeks.

Vancouver (39 pts) currently sit in the 5th and final position in the West, though only three points ahead of sixth place FC Dallas (37 pts). A win on Sunday by the Colorado Rapids over the LA Galaxy would put the Burgundy only six points from 5th place with three games remaining for all three teams. No Western Conference teams will be mathematically eliminted this weekend.

Things are much different in the East where only Sporting KC (58 pts) has clinched one of the Conference's five playoff berths, doing so on Friday with a win over Chicago. Only five points separate five teams from second to sixth place as such: New York Red Bulls (53 pts), Chicago Fire (53 pts), DC United (51 pts), Houston Dynamo (49 pts), and Columbus Crew (48 pts).

The New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, and Toronto FC have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.